Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-11-18
And then the whole kitchen tell foul

The servants and their chests anc
boxes were searched and nothing
found. But, then. no one would have
been fool enough to put the Jewels
where they could be come at after once
stealing them. Suspicion was not les
sened by this fact; it still lay heavy
upon the anxious men and women.
And they were very wretceed under it,,
for. besides the terror of a false accu-
sation, good character was import
ant to them as a stock in trade, and one
upon whose honesty rested blemish
could scarcely find service again.
Therefore they were not displeased, but
rather comforted by the news that the
major was about to "teal" the truth by
Bible and key. and that they were all
summoned to his presence for that pur-
! pose.
ut will come out now" sad old
John-ap John. Better confess before
hur has any more trouble"
And he looked at Peter Morgan.
Every one else looked at him, too,
but they made nothing by that, and after
such preparat ons as were needful the
little troop filed into the parlor and
stood before the major, Miss Black
thwate and her friend. And at once
all eyes were riyeted upon thick
Bible, corded about so as to bind with
in its leaves great iron door key.
The major was grayer than before.
He arose and addressed the conclave
with an ar that proved how much i'm
portance he attached to the supersti-
tious ceremony which was about to be
performed
MY friends, he said, 'we are about
to ask heaven to judge us. Reflect;
deception is longer impossible. Let
the guilty confess and make restitution.
and | will treat him leniently--there is
yet time. | do not wish to resort to
harsh measures"
But no one spoke and the major took
up the Bible.
"John-ap John" he said, clear
yourself first Aud the old man
walked SLOWLY toward his master.
the Bible by the key, he re-
peated the names Of the three persons
OF the Trinity, and called upon them to
witness TO his perfect honesty. And
the key remained immoyable, and old |
John returned TO his corner, angry still, /
but feeling he had proved himself en-
trely above suspicion.
In turn his fellow servants followed. /
the women burst ne into tears rs thew
retired, leaving the key still unturned
between the or mt Bible leaves. And
at last it came to Peter Morgan's
urn.
The man came forward boldly
enough and took firm hold of the kew.
Then he began to utter the sacred
names with which the a,severation of
ais innocence commenced.
God the Father-God the Son"
But then before he could utter
mother word, the key turned in the
5 .ble-turncd fairly around before all
hose eyes which were riveted upon it.
md the raered book itself dropped from
Peter Morgan's hand.
For all that. | never touched the
diamonds" he cried But no one there
him. The test of the Bible
nd Key was considered infallible, and
10 was seut TO prison to await his trial.
1t was proved that on the morning
fter the loss of the diamonds Peter
lorgan had gone over TO the village. ,
where his mother lived, and not only ]
aid her rent, but bought her red
ow, and that he would not tell whence !
ne money came. Now. pressed upon
ne point, he declared that he had sold I
silver watch for it. but did not like /
} say so, because it was an heirloom '
the family. having been given to his
lther by rich man, whose servant |
o had been. But he had sold it to a
'aveling pedler, so that the proof
ouid not be given, and in the end his
uilt seemed quite established, and he
as doomed to "be hanged by the
eek until he was dead. upon the old
allows of Gwelt-town. it being believ-
by all that at the last moment he
Guild make confession.
Miss Blackthwaite was much distress
|, but she believed that when once
"a kew had turned all doubt of Peters
tilt had vanished and that her svm-
'thy was thrown away.
AS for the major, he would not have
terierred with the laws of his coun-
Y had it been possible, and John-ap-
'hn and his fellow-servants thought
} fate too bad for one who had cast so
uch suspicion upon them-and the
y drew near on which he was TO die.
I'd only his poor old mother came TO
Q prison gates to weep. or went fran s
ally about to gain speech with those
no had power in their hands and tell
EN- that she was sure of her Peter IT,
d that he was the best son who ever